Computer Control of Zinc-Coating Weight on the Fairfield No. 4 Galvanizing Line

Abstract In 1973, U.S. Steel placed in operation on the No. 4 galvanizing line at its Fairfield Works a fully automatic computer system for controlling zinc-coating weight. The computer includes a highly accurate strip-tracking system that facilitates making order changes and a production- data reporting system that automatically produces all basic operating and production data in uniform report format. A control system automatically regulating in-line annealing through control of line speed is also included. Tests have shown that the zinc coating can be uniformly controlled, with no undercoating, and provide significant savings in zinc consumption by avoiding excessive coatings.